Not that it’s much of a surprise, but the signs are pointing to a successful launch for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate when it launches in early December.
Nintendo has announced that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the best “pre-selling” Super Smash Bros. game of all time, and it’s also the best “pre-selling” Nintendo Switch game ever. Pre-order figures may not be as important or reliable as they once were, but it remains a notable achievement, and one that likely signals a strong performance for the upcoming title.
High pre-order figures may or may not be indicative of future performance, but whatever the case, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has big shoes to fill. 2014’s Super Smash Bros. for Wii U sold 5.35 million copies, while Super Smash Bros. for 3DS told 9.35 million copies. The Wii Smash Bros. game, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, sold 13.29 million copies. It is a very popular franchise.
The best-selling Nintendo Switch game is Super Mario Odyssey, which sold 12.17 million copies, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (11.71 million) and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (10.28 million) following closely behind, according to Nintendo’s publicly disclosed sales data. With Nintendo announcing that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has set a new pre-selling record, it will be interesting to see how the game fares commercially relative to the best-selling Switch games.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has leaked ahead of launch, so be careful out there on the internet if you’re wary of encountering spoilers.
